C16 Leaving the Sect!

"Do you not grasp the words I'm speaking? I'm telling you that you're trying to frame me without any cause! The Ye family is nothing but a blight upon our Celestial Dragon Sect! Sure, you can cast me out based on your so-called laws, and I'll go. But mark my words, I'll be back soon, and that will be the moment the Ye family deeply regrets their actions!"

Lin Tian's sneer was cold and relentless. "And why am I so confident? It's quite straightforward, Hall Master. You were curious about my rapid advancement recently, weren't you? Well, I owe it to Great Master Zhao Danhua's assistance. His medicinal pills were instrumental in my swift progress. Furthermore, Master Zhao sees potential in me for pill refining and intends to formally take me on as his disciple once I've ascended to the Martial Artist Stage."

The hall erupted with gasps of disbelief, eyes wide with astonishment. No one had anticipated Lin Tian's connection with Zhao Danhua.

Ye Feng's face contorted with disbelief as he pointed at Lin Tian, "Impossible! Great Master Zhao Danhua doesn't even know who you are..."

"What would you know?" Lin Tian cut off Ye Feng with a dismissive sneer, turning his attention to Ye Hong at the head of the hall. "Hall Master, if you doubt my words, feel free to verify them with Great Master Zhao Danhua himself. Invite him here, or if not, send someone to confirm whether he considers me a friend. If I'm lying, there's no need to expel me—just end my life, and I'll harbor no resentment."

Upon hearing this, Ye Hong's expression shifted, and he commanded a Law Enforcement Elder, "Investigate the truth of his claim!"

"At once!" The elder promptly departed.

As the elder left, the previous anger in the room morphed into a mix of surprise and uncertainty. They didn't need the elder's confirmation; they were almost certain Lin Tian was telling the truth. His progress had been astoundingly rapid. It had been mere days since Ye Ku had knocked him unconscious—less than ten!

In under ten days, Lin Tian had advanced from Martial Apprentice Level Three to Level Five, and he had even awakened his Spirit Body!

Such an astonishing rate of growth, what kind of serendipitous event could have led to this? Surely, it must have been under the guidance of a master!

Now, with Zhao Danhua identified as that master, everything clicked into place!

After all, Zhao Danhua was not only a Pharmacist but also an elder of the Pill Tower! It was entirely plausible for him to have facilitated Lin Tian's rapid progress in such a short time!

Lin Tian watched the surrounding crowd, a sneer playing on his lips.

This was all part of his scheme!

He had anticipated that his rapid advancement would draw attention, necessitating a convincing cover story, and Zhao Danhua was the perfect candidate!

As for whether Zhao Danhua would cover for him, Lin Tian was certain he would!

Having resolved Zhao Danhua's health issues and demonstrated his prowess in Pill Refining Arts before him, how could someone as astute as Zhao Danhua not know how to play along? Otherwise, Zhao Danhua wouldn't have been so eager to claim their friendship.

As expected, it wasn't long before the Law Enforcement Elder hurried back, his face a picture of astonishment as he glanced at Lin Tian. He then respectfully addressed the Hall Master, "Hall Master, I can confirm that everything Lin Tian has said is true! Although I didn't personally witness Great Master Zhao Danhua, many within the Pill Tower corroborate that he and Lin Tian are indeed friends! Furthermore..."

Ye Hong felt a sense of dread and quickly pressed, "Furthermore, what?!"

The Law Enforcement Elder continued, head bowed, "Moreover, according to the Pill Tower's testimony, the Absolute Cold Grass that belonged to Young Master Ye Feng was not taken by Lin Tian, but by Elder Zhao Hai, who claimed it was a compensatory gift for Mr. Lin Tian."

At this revelation, a thud resounded as Ye Feng's body slumped to the ground, his complexion turning ashen.

He realized his plans had unraveled.

He had hoped to pull the wool over the eyes of his clan and have them eliminate Lin Tian in one fell swoop.

Now, with the truth laid bare, he was certain to face severe repercussions!

Indeed, Ye Hong's eyes blazed with rage as he turned his furious gaze upon Ye Feng.

Ye Feng shuddered, yet he kept his head bowed, unable to muster the courage to utter another word.

A solemn air enveloped the people within the hall. They recognized the gravity of the situation.

Behind Lin Tian stood Zhao Danhua himself!

Even though they were clueless about how Zhao Danhua discerned Lin Tian's aptitude for pill refining, they understood the significance of his endorsement. Zhao Danhua's esteem for Lin Tian alone rendered him untouchable.

"Ahem... I see," Ye Hong coughed, his gaze shifting. "It appears we have a misunderstanding. If that's the case, let's consider the matter closed..."

"Closed? How can we simply let this go?" Lin Tian cut in sharply. "Hall Master Ye Hong, your son accused me of stealing his Absolute Cold Grass. How can you dismiss this as a mere misunderstanding?"

"What else is there to discuss if it's a misunderstanding?" Ye Dao interjected, his eyes flashing coldly. "Lin Tian, don't overstep your bounds!"

"The only ones overstepping are you!" Lin Tian countered fiercely. "Hall Master Ye Hong, as the head of the Ye family and the Law Enforcement Hall Master of the Celestial Dragon Sect, shouldn't you set an example of fairness? Can you really let your son's slander slide with a simple excuse of a misunderstanding? If this is how you handle matters, what becomes of the Celestial Dragon Sect's justice, its laws?"

The crowd in the hall exchanged uneasy glances as Ye Hong's face grew stormy. "A misunderstanding is just that—a misunderstanding! Ye Feng was unaware of Great Master Zhao's high regard for you..."

"Was he truly unaware?" Lin Tian challenged, his icy stare fixed on Ye Feng, who was crumpled on the floor. "Ye Feng, can you honestly claim ignorance of my connection with Great Master Zhao? Shall I summon him here to confirm it?"

Ye Feng quivered, his head sinking even lower, too frightened to reply.

With a thunderous slap on his chair, Ye Hong rose to his feet, his voice laced with frustration. "Enough, Lin Tian! I've declared this issue resolved, yet you persist in this tiresome dispute. Do you really think the Law Enforcement Hall is to be trifled with?"

"What a farce this Law Enforcement Hall is!"

Lin Tian burst into laughter, then cursed openly, "A den of self-serving, corrupt vermin, and they have the audacity to call themselves the Law Enforcers of the Celestial Dragon Sect's Outer Sect! What kind of sect allows this? I hereby announce that my sister, Lin Ling, and I are severing ties with the Outer Sect of the Celestial Dragon Sect as a protest against the unjust practices of the Law Enforcement Hall! We will only consider returning when an Elder from the Inner Sect addresses this issue!"

"What?!"

A collective gasp echoed through the hall; no one could have anticipated Lin Tian's bold move.

Lin Tian paid no heed to their astonished faces. He strode over to Lin Ling, shattered her chains with a single palm strike, and began to lead her out.

He had made up his mind. The Outer Sect was under the Ye family's thumb, and there was no chance for peace there.

If peace was unattainable, it was time to leave. With Zhao Danhua's support and having caught the eye of Inner Sect Elder Hoo Xiu, all Lin Tian needed was to ace the Inner Sect Test. Then, taking on the Ye family would be a breeze.

But the Ye family had no intention of letting them go. Ye Dao swiftly blocked the exit, confronting the siblings.

"Lin Tian! Do you really think you can waltz in and out of the Celestial Dragon Sect at your leisure?" Ye Dao sneered. He then turned to Ye Hong, "Hall Master, my suggestion is to detain them. We should thoroughly investigate before drawing any conclusions."

As he spoke, a menacing aura enveloped Ye Dao, and the atmosphere in the hall shifted.

Everyone understood the subtext: 'drawing conclusions' was code for eliminating Lin Tian and his sister to prevent future complications.

Ye Hong's gaze flickered with calculation. Indeed, this seemed like the most expedient solution.

Eliminating Lin Tian and his sister would remove a potential threat to the Lin family. Sure, it would be awkward to explain to Zhao Danhua, but dead meant worthless. At worst, they'd offer an apology. But if they let them go now, and the siblings rose to power later, what then would the Ye family do?

Ye Hong's expression turned icy as he nodded, "So be it..."

"Wait!"

In the nick of time, Yuan Hee uttered a single word that made Ye Hong's demeanor freeze.

"Hall Master, the facts are clear. Ye Feng falsely accused Mr. Lin Tian first, so why continue to detain and question him and his sister? Isn't that redundant?"

"Yuan Hee! Mind your words..."

"I am well aware."

Yuan Hee cut off Ye Hong again, his voice frosty, "Hall Master, I believe your handling of this situation is flawed. Therefore, I intend to report this to the Inner Sect. Meanwhile, I will personally ensure that Mr. Lin Tian and his sister are safely escorted out of the Outer Sect. I will await the Inner Sect's verdict before following their directives."

With a swift motion, Yuan Hee moved to stand beside Mr. Lin Tian!

His action incensed the Ye family members present in the hall. Ye Dao, with a chilling tone, questioned, "Vice Master Yuan Hee! Are you certain you wish to proceed in this manner?"

"Why all this pointless chatter?"

Lin Tian bellowed, "Out of my way!"

With a thunderous roar, Lin Tian's fist flew towards Ye Dao's chest!

"What?!"

Ye Dao exclaimed in shock, hastily blocking with his crossed arms. But Lin Tian's punch was fueled by fury, channeling both the Inner Strength of a Martial Apprentice Level Five and the might of his Flame Spirit Body. Just one punch was enough to shatter Ye Dao's arms!

A sickening snap of breaking bones echoed through the hall. Ye Dao was sent hurtling backward like a kite severed from its string, crashing outside the hall and coughing up blood.

The hall fell into a stunned silence.

All eyes were riveted on Lin Tian, astounded.

No one had anticipated Lin Tian's formidable strength – with a single punch, he had vanquished Ye Dao of the Martial Artist Stage!